rowerS oF THe FUTUre
Pol anD’S
Julia Michalska of Poland racing
on the Rotsee at the 2007
Rowing World Cup in Lucerne,
Switzerland.
SinglE StaR
Julia Michalska rising to race the “rocks”
© 2007 Getty Images
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Poland’s Julia Michalska is upgrading.
The former junior and under 23 world
Champion in the single is now
embarking at senior level. Already she
has a rowing world Cup gold medal in
the lightweight single and is becoming
a regular A finalist in the open women’s
single. Julia talks to world rowing
about her transition from the under 23s
to racing the “rocks” at the senior level:
world rowing: How did your
rowing adventure begin?
Julia Michalska: Back in 1999 coach Marcin
Witkowski came to my grammar school and
invited me and my friends to go rowing.
I was 14 years old when I first touched an
oar and have since worked only with Coach
Witkowski.
wr: what made you stay with the sport?
JM: The will to compete and the chance
to compare myself with other athletes give
me excitement and extra power to live. The
atmosphere around sport, especially rowing, lets
me create my own way of looking at life. I love
meeting new people, making new friends.
wr: Is there anyone that you
admire in the sporting world?
JM: I have one character that has a huge
impact on me: Pope John Paul II. He often
mentioned his journeys as a teenager. His
holidays were always held in mountains,
in touch with nature. He never avoided
meetings with athletes from varied sports. I
think John Paul II is one of the best examples
of great athletes.
wr: Are you a full time athlete?
JM: I also study at the University School of
Physical Education, majoring in physiotherapy.
Both rowing and studying give me extra
motivation in life.
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